Ipomoea plant named &#39;ISGBU07-0&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Ipomoea batatas  cultivar named ‘ISGBU07-0’ is disclosed, characterized by dark greyed-purple palmate shaped foliage with irregular green variegation. Plants are highly compact, have a bush forming, habit and produce many lateral branches, without pinching or chemical growth regulators. The new cultivar is an  Ipomoea batatas , typically suited for ornamental container and garden use.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Ipomoea batatas

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘ISGBU07-0’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety originated as a chance discover by the inventor, Paul A.Talmadge. The variety was discovered as a naturally occurring wholeplant mutation from the patented variety Ipomoea batatas ‘IPOSGDEEPUR’.The new variety was discovered in March of 2012 at a commercialgreenhouse in Hudsonville, Mich.

After selecting and isolating the new cultivar, asexual reproduction ofthe new cultivar ‘ISGBU07-0’ was first performed in a commercialgrreenhouse in Hudsonville, Mich. during 2012. ‘ISGBU07-0’ has sinceproduced several generations and has shown that the unique features ofthis cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type. Typical asexualreproduction of the new variety is by vegetative cuttings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ISGBU07-0’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘ISGBU07-0.’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘ISGBU07-0’ as a new and distinct Ipomoeacultivar:

1. Bush forming plant habit

2. Unique foliage color of dark greyed purple with irregular greenvariegation.

3. Extremely compact plant habit.

4. Average to large foliage size.

5. Very well branched, without pinching or chemical growth regulatoruse.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ISGBU07-0’ are similar to the seed parent inmost horticultural characteristics. However, ‘ISGBU07-0’ differs inproducing foliage with green flecks. Additionally the new variety has amore compact plant habit.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ISGBU07-0’ can be compared to the commercialvariety Ipomoea batatas ‘Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Purple U.S. PlantPat. No. 18,573. Plants of ‘ISGBU07-0’ are similar to plants of ‘SweetCaroline Sweetheart Purple’ in some horticultural characteristics,however, plants of ‘ISGBU07-0’ form a bush shape, with many short,secondary lateral branches, whereas ‘Sweet Caroline Bronze will developa vining, trailing habit with age, and requires pinching to developlateral branches. Additionally plants of ‘ISGBU07-0’ are more compactand have foliage with irregular green variegation.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ISGBU07-0’ can be compared to the commercialvariety Ipomoea batatas ‘Iposghpur’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,324. The newvariety is similar to this comparator, however, the plant habit of‘ISGBU07-0’ is more compact. Additionally, foliage of ‘ISBU070’ hasdifferent shape, and contains green variegation not found on foliage of‘Iposghpur’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘ISGBU07-0’ grown in a greenhouse in Oxnard, Calif.This plant is approximately 8 weeks old, from an unrooted cutting, shownin a 10 inch pot. FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of the foliage. Thephotographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colorsmay appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it isas accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to the R.H.S.Colour Chart, 2007, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used. The following observations and measurementsdescribe ‘ISGBU07-0’ plants grown during the Spring months in agreenhouse in Oxnard, Calif., under bright, unshaded conditions. Averageday temperatures were approximately 20° C. to 26° C. and the averagenight temperature was approximately 15° C. to 18° C. No artificiallight, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to theplants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplant types.

-   Botanical classification: Ipomoea batatas ‘ISGBU07-0’-   Age of the plant described: Approximately 8 weeks from an unrooted    cutting.-   Container size of the plant described: 10 inch commercial container.-   Propagation:    -   -   Propagation method.—terminal cuttings.        -   Time to develop roots suitable for            transplanting.—Summer-about 6 days at an average temperature            of 24° C.; Winter-about 10 days at an average temperature of            24° C.        -   Root description.—thick, fleshy.        -   Tuber description.—None observed.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Compact, upright and mounding. Bushy.        -   Height.—measured from top of soil line of pot, approximately            20 cm.        -   Plant spread.—approximately 30 cm.        -   Growth rate.—rapid.        -   Branching characteristics.—Very free branching, alternate or            whorled occurring.-   Primary lateral branches:    -   -   Length.—a range between 5 to 12 cm.        -   Diameter.—approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Texture.—glabrous, with occasional fine pubescence close to            nodes.        -   Color.—Heavily flushed near RHS Greyed-Purple N186C over the            main color of Yellow-Green 146D.        -   Strength.—strong.        -   Internode length.—a range between 0.5-1.5 cm.        -   Adventitious roots at nodes.—Not observed.-   Secondary lateral branches:    -   -   Length.—ranging from 1 to 4 cm.        -   Diameter.—approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Texture.—glabrous, with occasional hairs seen with a hand            lens.        -   Color.—Near Yellow-Green 146D, flushed near RHS            Greyed-Purple N186C.        -   Strength.—Flexible.        -   Internode length.—Range between 0.4 to 0.6 cm.        -   Quantity per 8 week old plant.—Approximately 15.        -   Adventitious roots at nodes.—none observed.-   New shoot growth characteristics:    -   -   Color.—Near Greyed-Purple 187B.        -   Aspect.—upright.        -   Texture.—glabrous.-   Foliage:-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—alternate, simple.        -   Average length.—10 cm.        -   Average width.—8 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—palmate with 2 very deep lobes and 2 deep            lobes.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—cordate.        -   Margin.—        -   Aspect.—Upward fold and petiole attachment. Young foliage            more folded.        -   Texture of top surface.—glabrous.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—glabrous.        -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—Average 5 to 10.-   Foliage color:    -   -   Young foliage upper side.—Heavily mottled with Greyed-Purple            N186B and Green 137B. Mottling completely irregular.        -   Young foliage under side.—Heavily mottled with Greyed-Purple            NI 87A and Green 137C.        -   Mature foliage upper side.—Mainly near Greyed-Purple N186C,            with blotches of Green 137A, Yellow-Green 144A and N186A.            Blotching completely irregular.        -   Mature foliage under side.—Mainly near Greyed-Purple 187A,            with blotches of Yellow-Green 144C.-   Venation:    -   -   Type.—palmate, reticulate.        -   Venation color upper side.—Near Greyed-Purple 187A.        -   Venation color under side.—Near Greyed-Purple N186C.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—a range from approximately 5 to 9 cm.        -   Diameter.—approximately 0.4 cm at base, 0.25 cm at top.        -   Texture.—mostly glabrous with a few hairs visible with a            hand lens.        -   Color.—Near Greyed-Purple N186C, young foliage petioles            Yellow-Green 144B flushed with Greyed-Purple N186C.        -   Strength.—strong.        -   Aspect.—Straight to slightly curved.-   Flower: Flowering not observed to date.-   Other characteristics:-   Seeds and fruits: No seeds/fruits observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    the normal pests and diseases of Ipomoea has been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates low temperatures to approximately    2° C. Good high temperature tolerance, observed to at least 40° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ipomoea batatasplant named ‘ISGBU07-0’ as herein illustrated and described.